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The Telangana Sikh Society delegation has demanded ban on the release of the film, ‘Emergency’, in the state. (Photo: Instagram)
Kangana Ranaut’s directorial release Emergency has been postponed, reportedly due to rising controversies that have led to a delay in certification.
Kangana Ranaut’s directorial release Emergency has been postponed, reportedly due to rising controversies. Kangana Ranaut and Mandi Lok Sabha MP say the film’s approval was “stopped” because CBFC members got “threats.” A new release date hasn’t been set yet.
In a video posted on X (formerly Twitter), Kangana, had said on Friday, “There are rumours doing the rounds that our film, Emergency, has been granted Censor certificate. This is not true. In fact, our film had been cleared but certification has been stopped because many threats were coming in. Death threats. The Censor Board members are getting threats. We are under pressure not to show the assassination of Indira Gandhi, not to show Bhindranwale, not to show the Punjab riots. I don’t know what will be left to show then… This is unbelievable for me and I am very sorry for the state of things in this country.”
The controversy started brewing when Emergency trailer was released a few weeks ago. It showed Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a Khalistan leader, promising to support Indira Gandhi’s party for a separate Sikh state. Irked by it, the Shiromani Akali Dal in Delhi then sent a legal notice to the CBFC, asking to stop the film because of its portrayal of Sikhs.
A source close to the CBFC said, as quoted by The Indian Express, that the certification can take time given the sensitive nature of the film. “We have nothing to do with the film’s release date. That has been announced beforehand, before grant of certification,” said a government officer said on grounds of anonymity.
Emergency is a political drama revolving around former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her life. Kangana plays the role of the late politician, and also marks her solo directorial debut. The film also stars Shreyas Talpade as former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Anupam Kher as Jayaprakash Narayan, Mahima Chaudhry as cultural activist and Indira Gandhi’s confidante Pupul Jayakar and Milind Soman as Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw.
